There were many long nights back in their first months as Arizona lawmakers when two ambitious southern Arizona Republicans – seatmates who were first sent to the Capitol in 2008 – would share their grandest hopes and dreams in the modest setting of their rented Scottsdale trailer.

Mesnard said he has declined Gowan’s offer to appoint him as Commerce chair in exchange for giving up his bid for speaker. “This is still competitive and the caucus members deserve a choice,” he told our reporter.

One source close to Gowan told our reporter this morning (Sept. 12) that, although Ugenti made a strong pitch for approps chair, Gowan has no intention of giving her the reins of the committee. “I can guarantee with 110 percent certainty that Ugenti will not be approps chair,” the source said.